The Los Angeles Film Festival, a wonderland for independent film buffs, returned to LA Live this week, with a pre-screening Tuesday night of 22 JUMP STREET;
the Opening Night film, Wednesday, SNOWPIERCER; and a gala event last night at The Bing Theater at LACMA, LOVE IS STRANGE.

Starriing ALFRED MOLINA and JOHN LITHGOW as an aging gay couple, who finally decide to marry after nearly 40 years together, the film explores the WORLD PREMIERE-LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

The Los Angeles Film Festival continues at LA Live in downtown, with loads of great films, both dramatic and documentary running through June 19th. There are plenty of celebrities on hand from the legendary HAL HOLBROOK, to the up and coming, HALEY LU RICHARDSON, and loads in between, BRUCE DERN, LINDA BLAIR, OLIVER PLATT, OLIVIA MUMM, ESAI MORALES, LOU DIAMOND PHILLIPS, EMMY ROSSUM, JASON RITTER, MELISSA LEO, ROSARIO DAWSON, MOBY, ALFRED MOLINA, JOHN LITHGOW, EMILE HIRSCH, ROBERT PATRICK, MEGAN MULLALLY, AMY HILL, KEEGAN MICHAEL-KEY and JORDAN PEELE, to mention just a few.

On Saturday, a little gay history was made, as a documentary, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP had it's world premiere. The remarkable film documents the arduous journey forged by RICHARD ADAMS, an American citizen, and TONY SULLIVAN, an Australian, who met in 1971 at a Los Angeles gay bar called, The Closet. Turns out, they were the first gay couple to be married in the United States, back in 1975, by a remarkable county clerk in Boulder, Colorado, who decided, on her ow, with no apparent political agenda to grant same-sex couples marriage licenses. She issued 5, before the state attorney general figured out what was going on, but TONY and RICHARD were one of those, and they went on to file the first ever federal lawsuit seeking to have gay marriage recognized.

The story is a sad reminder of how backwards things were in this country for same-sex couples. Indeed, it took another 29 years before another local politician, GAVIN NEWSOM, as mayor of San Francisco decided to issue gay couples wedding licenses, and, well, the rest is history. Or history still in the making. Some 19 states now allow same-sex marriage, with a decision from the Supreme Court on the universality of the law probably coming in 2015.

The story is well documented with video footage of the couple, along with newspaper and television news coverage of the events that make up a history of the movement, which seems like it is now moving at breakneck speed, but actually has been 40+ years in the making. Producer/director THOMAS MILLER told the audience this labor of love, the film that is, had been 15 years in the making. TONY and RICHARD, whose labors lasted considerably longer, were definitely heroes, and we see them living this dream/nightmare throughout, including right up to the Supreme Court's decision last June to throw out DOMA.

But it is the revelation of this little known county clerk, CLELA ROREX, which is even more astounding than the epic journey the two partners endured. In interviews, she explains that she didn't know any gay people at the time, nor did she have any idea that they might want to be married, but when a same-sex couple applied, she couldn't see any reason not to grant them the license. And so the movement was born, not in San Francisco, as we might have thought, but rather, in Boulder, by a straight woman, with no political axe to grind. Amazing!

CLELA ROREX was at the screening, and after the film she explained how she thought she might be emotionally kmoved by seeing it for the first time. But instead, she said she was "motivated", later enthusiastically sharing her anger and frustration at "how long this whole thing took." She continued, "why couldn't the decision to recognize their marriage been done so many years ago?"

It was an amazing moment, no doubt one of many, that took place in a small theater, in a complex full of them, at the Los Angeles Film Festival, Saturday.

6.16.14 - LAFF CELEBRATES 20 YEARS

The Los Angeles Film Festival, a wonderland for independent film buffs, returned to LA Live this week, with a pre-screening Tuesday night of 22 JUMP STREET; the Opening Night film, Wednesday, SNOWPIERCER; and a gala event last night at The Bing Theater at LACMA, LOVE IS STRANGE.

Starriing ALFRED MOLINA and JOHN LITHGOW as an aging gay couple, who finally decide to marry after nearly 40 years together, the film explores the delicacies of family, and all of its nuanced gyrations with the advent of same-sex marriage. It has gotten to be old news to see two men kiss onscreen, but to see these two fine actors in a smaltzy, tender relationship was quite heartwarming.

The film has a terrific cast, led by a strong performance by MARISA TOMEI, DARREN BURROWS, CHARLIE TAHAN and the hunky CHEYENNE JACKSON. There are even a few moments with harriet sansom harris, the fireplug that played BEBE GLASER on FRASIER. But her immense talents are wasted here.

MOLINA and LITHGOW were in attendance at the screening, bit arriving with women in tow. They dutifully spoke with the media on hand, and did a charming Q & A after the film, where we learned that despite being friends, this is the first time they have worked together. LITHGOW praised MOLINA, calling the project one of the easiest to act in his entire career, citing MOLINA for the work being "no effort at all."

MOLINA got some huge laughs by responding, "I have never met this man. I think I'm at the wrong screening."
The film certainly belied that point, as it seemed the two had really been at their relationship for 40 years.

Both veteran actors had plenty of friends and family in attendance for this "family" film. SWOOZIE KURTZ, looking half her age, was on hand to support her apparent dear friends, LITHGOW & MOLINA.

The LAFF runs through June 19th at venues in and around LA Live. Get out and see some independent film. There really is something for everyone.

From acclaimed director Michael Bay comes “Pain & Gain,” a new action comedy starring Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson and Anthony Mackie. Based on the unbelievable true story of a group of personal trainers in 1990s Miami who, in pursuit of the American Dream, get caught up in a criminal enterprise that goes horribly wrong.

Montblanc Signature for Good 2013 Charity Brunch the day before the Oscars
Hilary Swank joins Montblanc and UNICEF to celebrate the launch of
the Signature for Good Initiative 2013 at Hotel Bel Air, Los Angeles
Each year Montblanc presents on the day before the Oscars their charity initiative of the year. This year on February 23, Montblanc presented UNICEF as charity partner of the year 2013.

With a Charity Brunch at the iconic Hotel Bel Air in Los Angeles Montblanc celebrated the launch of the new Signature for Good initiative benefiting UNICEF together with Academy Award Winner Hilary Swank who supported Montblanc and UNICEF for a field visit to Ethiopia. During the event the Montblanc Signature for Good 2013 collection was presented which aims to raise at least $1.5 million dollars to support UNICEF education programmes worldwide.

2.12.13 - The New Year signifies fresh beginnings and limitless possibilities ahead. For the fashion industry, it also means the latest collections will soon make their debut, giving designers a platform to present the next chapter in their story. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2013 Collections is just a few weeks away, and today IMG Fashion, producers of the event, announced the preliminary line up of emerging talent, established brands and returning designers who will take center-stage .

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival opened last weekend with tributes for BEN AFFLECK and DANIEL DAY LEWIS at the Arlington Theater on State Street in the bucolic town on the water. BEN had an eventful weekend, capturing the top prizes for his film ARGO on the same weekend at the Producers Guild Awards and the SAG Awards. He spoke with us about basketball, commiserating about the fate of the Boston Celtics this year as well as the Los Angeles Lakers. Ironically, as he was telling us about how good RONJON RONDO was, the Celtic guard suffered an ACL injury to his knee, and is now lost for the season.

Meanwhile, DANIEL DAY LEWIS exhibited extreme nedia shyness, habing his publicist issue a statment to the media that he would do no interviews on the red carpet as he arrived for his tribute. SALLY FIELD did the honors, talking up LEWIS and the film LINCOLN, for which she is nominated for a Best Supporting Actress nod. LEWIS is the odds on favorite to win Best Actor at the Academy Awards, having claimed the Golden Globe and the SAg Award for his portrayal of the iconic American president.

Ben Affleck was honored with the Modern Master Award at Santa Barbara Film Festival on January 25th 2013. The award was presented to Ben by his friend Matt Damon. Also includes an interview with the oscar nominated producer Ben Affleck.

Daniel Day Lewis & Sally Field at Santa Barbara International Film Festival 1.26.13. Daniel was honored with Montecito Award in Santa Barbara. Also includes interviews with Daniel and Sally Field

SBIFF honored legendary screenwriter and director Quentin Tarantino with the American Riveria Award, sponsored by Moet & Chandon and moderated by LA Times film writer, John Horn. From the edge of his own seat, Tarantino, who received an Academy Award nominee for screenplay, took the audience on a journey allowing them a peak inside his process of turning his handwritten stories into works of art. He enlightened the audience with the discussion of subtext and how that can transform a scene into something honest and real. In writing his screenplays he is limitless, writing things "he would not no how to (direct)." Tarantino expressed that writing is all about the journey and that's what makes the end result worthwhile. SBIFF continues through Sunday, February 3.

1.28.13 - Denzel Washington attends the UK Film Premiere of 'Flight' at the Empire Leicester Square on January 17, 2013 in London, England .